Communications system, apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a communication system operative to provide a user interface for selecting content from at least a first content domain and a second different content domain, configured to drive a display device to display one or more content item identifiers ( 184 ) identifying content items of said first content domain and content item identifiers ( 192 ) identifying one or more content items of said second content domain in a common display arrangement ( 180 ). The invention also relates to an apparatus and method.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a communications system, apparatus andmethod. In particular, but not exclusively, to a communications systemcomprising a plurality of communications networks.

BACKGROUND

The distribution of media content such as music and video now takesplace over various communications channels. For example, music and videomay be broadcast over terrestrial VHF and UHF networks to be received bytelevision sets, from satellite to ground stations or domestic satellitereceivers and over cable networks. Such broadcast services generallycomprise one or more communication channels, each channel comprising aparticular carrier frequency onto which is modulated a signalrepresentative of the content to be transmitted over the channel.Content, typically television programmes, films or music shows, aretransmitted over a particular channel or channels at particular times inaccordance with a programme schedule. In this regard, broadcast servicescomprise “appointments to yield” whereby a viewer has to tune into achannel at the time content of interest to the viewer is transmitted onthat channel.

More recently, interactive television has become available whereby aviewer, prompted by a message displayed on the television, may sendcontrol signals or messages to the broadcaster or third party associatedwith the broadcaster and displayed message to initiate certain activity.For example, to initiate selection of a programme to view or receiveinformation about a programme.

Broadcast services are widely available using digital communicationstechniques. Digital broadcast service providers often provide data topopulate a menu or Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) of, for example, aset-top box or television with suitable EPG software, on one of theirchannels. A typical EPG is based on a grid system and displaysprogrammes and channels in transverse directions. For example, theprogrammes for a particular channel may be displayed in a horizontaldirection with different channels set out in a vertical direction. Aviewer may use a remote control having “UP/DOWN” and “LEFT/RIGHT”buttons and use these buttons to move a cursor about the display tohighlight programmes. A viewer may select a highlighted programme byactuating a “SELECT” button which tunes the receiver to the particularcannel. Optionally, a viewer may highlight a programme which is to bebroadcast in the future and selection of that programme may invoke a“record” or “reminder” option.

Television viewers are generally familiar with EPGs set out in a gridsystem and navigable using remote control devices having relativelysimple buttons such as “UP/DOWN” and “LEFT/RIGHT” buttons and “SELECT”buttons.

Content is also available over computer networks such as the Internet.Content is usually accessed over the Internet using a personal computersuch as a desktop or laptop computer. The location of content on anetwork such as the Internet is defined by a network address known as aUniform Resource Locator (url). A particular content item can beaddressed and downloaded to the computer addressing the content forlater presentation or may be “streamed” whereby the computer presentsthe content as it is provided over the network. The user interface for acomputer is generally a pointing device such as a “mouse”, and computerusers are familiar with a user interface which allows for the pointingdevice to be moved on to an icon, text (such as an Internet “link”) orother graphic displayed on a display and selecting that graphic toinvoke a function associated with the graphic, for example addressingcontent over the Internet.

Many communications networks, including those making up at least a partof the Internet, are configured to transmit large amounts of data andthese are sometime termed “broadband” networks. For the purpose of thisdescription the term “broadband network” is used refer to acommunications network or part thereof which is capable of transmittingcontent items such as video and music in an acceptable timeframe. Suchnetworks may also support music or video streaming. The data bandwidthcapability of a consumer connection to such a network is typically atleast 2 MBit/s.

Many computer users have computers which are part of a local areanetwork (LAN), for example in their workplace and increasingly at homein their domestic residence. Users often keep content items on memorystorage coupled to their LAN and accessed through their computers.

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention were devised with theforegoing in mind.

SUMMARY

Viewed from a first aspect there is provided a content navigation moduleoperative to provide a user interface for selecting content from atleast a first content domain and a second different content domain,configured to drive a display device to display one or more content itemidentifiers identifying content items of said first content domain andcontent item identifiers identifying one or more content items of saidsecond content domain in a common display arrangement.

Typically, the first domain is a broadband content domain and the seconddomain is a broadcast content domain. For example, the broadband contentdomain may deliver content such as music and video over a communicationsnetwork such as the Internet, whilst the broadcast domain may be aterrestrial, cable or satellite broadcast system.

The content navigation module may be further configured to drive saiddisplay device to display content item identifiers identifying one ormore items of a third content domain. The third content domain maycomprise a local area network thereby providing a local content domain.The local area network may be a network local to said display device.

In particular, the content navigation module may be further configuredto drive said display device to: display in a first region of saiddisplay device a first list of said one or more content item identifiersarranged in a first direction; display a cursor movable in said firstdirection from a display position of one content item identifier of saidfirst list to a display position of an adjacently displayed content itemidentifier of said first list responsive to user input; and

display in a second region of said display device a second list of oneor more content item identifiers associated with a content itemidentifier of said first list on which said cursor is positioned,wherein said second list is arranged in a second direction transverse tosaid first direction.

Viewed from a second aspect there is provided a navigation moduleconfigured to drive a display device to: display in a first region ofsaid display device a first list of one or more content identifier itemsidentifying respective content items, said first list arranged in afirst direction; display a cursor movable in said first direction from adisplay position of one content identifier item of said first list to adisplay position of an adjacently displayed content identifier item ofsaid first list responsive to user input; and display in a second regionof said display device a second list of one or more content identifieritems associated with a content identifier item of said first list onwhich said cursor is positioned, wherein said second list is arranged ina second direction transverse to said first direction. The firstdirection may be a vertical direction and the second direction ahorizontal direction relative to a viewer perspective and display screenorientation

Typically, said first list may comprise one or more content itemidentifiers and said second list may comprise one or more content itemidentifiers.

Thus, there may be displayed to a viewer an indication of what contentitems have been found.

In one embodiment the content navigation module may be furtherconfigured to be responsive to said cursor being at a display positionof said one or adjacently displayed content item identifier in saidfirst list to initiate generation of said second list. In this way, thesecond list is generated by a viewer indicating an interest in a contentitem on the first list and then related or associated content itemsbeing found and their identifiers being displayed in the second list.

Suitably, a viewer or user actuated control signal is generated to movesaid cursor to a display position of a content item identifier of saidsecond list, said cursor movable in said second direction from a displayposition of said content item identifier of said second list to adisplay position of an adjacently displayed content item identifier ofsaid second list responsive to user input. The cursor may be moved fromadjacent identifier to adjacent identifier in a similar fashion tomoving between display indicia on an EPG

In an embodiment the content navigation module may be further configuredto be responsive to a second user actuated control signal to move saidcursor to a display position of a content item identifier of said firstlist. For example a special “fast” key may be assigned to move thecursor between lists. Optionally, the function of a key may be assigneddepending on which list the cursor is on.

In a particular embodiment the content navigation module is furtherconfigured to display said cursor with a direction indicator forindicating a direction in which said cursor is movable, therebyproviding an indication to a viewer of the direction in which a cursormay be moved.

In one embodiment the content navigation module may be configured to beoperative in a first and second mode wherein in said first mode onlycontent item identifiers identifying content items of said first contentdomain are displayed and in said second mode only content itemidentifiers identifying content items of said second content domain aredisplayed. The content navigation module may be further configured to beoperative in a third mode wherein said third mode only content itemidentifiers identifying content items of said third content domain aredisplayed.

In an embodiment usable with a TV remote control or the like the contentnavigation module may be invokable responsive to a signal indicative ofactuation of a one of an “UP” or “Down” key of a remote control deviceand be responsive to a signal indicative of actuation of a one of an“UP” or “DOWN” key of a remote control device to move said cursor insaid first direction when said cursor is at a display position of acontent identifier item of said first list.

In such an embodiment usable with a remote control the contentnavigation module may be further configured to be responsive to a signalindicative of actuation of a one of an “LEFT” or “RIGHT” key of a remotecontrol device to move said cursor in said second direction when saidcursor is at a display position of a content identifier item of saidsecond list. Such an embodiment may be further configured to beresponsive to a signal indicative of actuation of a one of an “UP” or“DOWN” key of a remote control device to move said cursor to a displayposition of a content identifier item of said first list when saidcursor is at a display position of a content identifier item of saidsecond list.

Viewed from a third aspect there is provided a system, comprising:

a content receiver switchable between at least a first receiver modeoperative to receive a content item of said first content domain and asecond receiver mode operative to receive a content item of said secondcontent domain; and

a content navigation module described above responsive to user actuationof a content item identifier displayed on said display device to selecta content item identifier and initiate in said receiver a receiver modecorresponding to the content domain of said selected content itemidentifier.

in one embodiment said content navigation module is responsive to saiduser actuation to initiate in said receiver access to a selected contentitem corresponding to said selected content item identifier and whereinsaid content receiver is configured to access said selected content itemresponsive to said initiation by said content navigation module.

Typically, an embodiment of the system further comprises a wide areabroadband communications network providing said first content domain anda broadcast video network providing said second content domain. Anembodiment may comprise a local area network providing said thirdcontent domain.

Viewed from a fourth aspect the present invention provides method ofcontent navigation for selecting content from at least a first contentdomain and a second different content domain, comprising driving adisplay device to display one or more content item identifiersidentifying content items of said first content domain and content itemidentifiers identifying one or more content items of said second contentdomain in a common display arrangement.

Viewed from a fifth aspect there is provided a computer programcomprising computer program elements operative in a data processingapparatus to implement the content navigation module and/or the methodas set out above.

Typically, there is provided a carrier medium carrying a computerprogram as set out above. The carrier medium may be any suitable medium,for example an electronic signal, an optical or rf carrier signal,magnetic media and digital versatile disk.

Viewed from a sixth aspect, there is provided a content navigationmodule operative to provide a user interface for selecting content fromat least a first content domain and a second different content domain,configured to drive a display device to display one or more content itemidentifiers identifying content items of said first content domain andcontent item identifiers identifying one or more content items of saidsecond content domain in a common display arrangement, the contentnavigation module being further operative to reduce a number ofdisplayed one or more content item identifiers identifying content itemsof at least one of said first and second content domains dependent uponselection of at least one displayed filtering function by a user.

Viewed from a seventh aspect, there is provided a method of contentnavigation for selecting content from at least a first content domainand a second different content domain, comprising driving a displaydevice to display one or more content item identifiers identifyingcontent items of said first content domain and content item identifiersidentifying one or more content items of said second content domain in acommon display arrangement, the method further comprising reducing anumber of displayed one or more content item identifiers identifyingcontent items of at least one of said first and second content domainsdependent upon selection of at least one displayed filtering function bya user.

One or more embodiments of the present invention are described furtherhereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates components and communication links of asystem for providing access to content from a plurality of sources inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the system of FIG. 1 in more detail;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a media display management server andcomponents thereof in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a content receiver and componentsthereof in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a screenshot of a screen displayed by a content navigationmodule in accordance with an embodiment of the invention when invoked bya user;

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show screenshots of a screen displayed by the contentnavigation module of FIG. 5, to show results of a search invoked by theuser;

FIG. 7 is a process flow diagram illustrating steps carried out in orderto provide access to additional content by means of a content navigationmodule;

FIG. 8 shows a screenshot of a screen displayed by a playlist module inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention when invoked by a user;and

FIG. 9 shows a screenshot of a screen displayed by a TV guide module inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention when invoked by a user.

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the inventionfollows with reference to the figures provided.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates components and communication links of asystem 100 for providing access from one or more content receivers tocontent from a plurality of sources. The system 100 comprises aplurality of content sources 102 arranged to distribute content forreception by a plurality of content receivers 108 (e.g. set-top boxes)and subsequent viewing of the content on a display associated with therespective receivers 108 over at least one of a communications network104 (such as: a wide area network (WAN), e.g. the Internet; local areanetworks (LAN); or a combination of two or more such networks) and abroadcast video distribution network 106 (e.g. a terrestrial cable IPTVor satellite television broadcast system). The system 100 also comprisesa media display management server (MDMS) 110 which controls contentconfiguration and distribution of content to the content receivers 108and provides a content search and/or discovery and/or navigation moduleand other services. The MDMS 110 provides a content managementenvironment responsible for the presentation of the content accessed bycontent receivers 108 (or users thereof) registered with the MDMS 110,giving users a consistent, quality controlled, user interface experienceacross multiple content types such as broadcast TV, interactive content,and Internet video content.

A media display management module (not shown) is provided in the contentreceivers 108 for managing the content search, discovery, navigation andpresentation on the content receivers 108. The media display managementmodule is configured to communicate with the MDMS 110 over thecommunications network 104.

The MDMS 110 and the media display management module configure contentfor display based upon a set of parameters specified by one or more of:a content provider; a user of a content receiver 108; a content receiver108 manufacturer; and a service provider. The parameters may be embeddedas operating parameters of a content receiver 108.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the features of FIG. 1 in more detailand provides an overview of the functional elements and modules of theMDMS 110. The features illustrated in FIG. 2 which correspond tofeatures already described in relation to FIG. 1 are denoted by likereference numerals.

In the illustrated embodiment, the MDMS 110 offers a client-serverrelationship with content receivers 108 comprising TV devices (such asset-top boxes), or as a web service via device Application ProgrammingInterfaces (APIs) to TV devices and other systems. Content receivers 108comprising TV devices that connect to the MDMS 110 may have embedded inthem a content receiver specific client (e.g. media display managementmodule) that enables at least a portion of platform services of the MDMS110 and content owner and original equipment manufacturer (OEM)branding, i.e. branding for the content receiver, manufacturer orsupplier, to be maintained uniformly across device types. Once ported,code changes may not need to be made to the device software to addadditional content, features and branding.

For content receivers 108 that connect to the MDMS 110 and which do nothave embedded client software, the platform services and content can beenabled via direct services application program interfaces and a TVdevice user interface. In these instances, a sub-set of the fullplatform functionality may be used, and content owner and OEM configuredbranding and services may not be fully-reflected in the interfacedisplayed to the user because of the limitations thereof. However,certain minimal elements may be required to be supported as a conditionof utilising the APIs.

Internet video traffic delivered to TV devices does not pass through theMDMS 110, but utilises the direct streaming services, protocols, codecsand networking paths from the content owners to the TV devices. Whilethese services, protocols, codecs and the networks utilised are commonto Internet video streaming to PCs, TV receivers may only be capable ofprocessing a subset of these protocols and codecs.

Likewise, broadcast content delivered to TV devices does not passthrough the MDMS 110 either, but is subject to broadcasting protocolsand transmission paths common to broadcast of TV signals to TV devicesover suitable media (e.g. Satellite, Antenna, and Cable).

Using the MDMS 110, content owners and media aggregators (i.e. partieswho aggregate syndicated web content such as news headlines, weblogs(blogs), podcasts, vlogs (video blogs) in a single proposition) canregister and manage their services and content for discovery and use bycontent receivers 108 configured to receive content made availablethrough the MDMS 110. Content owners can also configure additionalproducts and services via the MDMS 110 such as content subscriptions andpromotions and their content owner branding and interactive options arepreserved across all devices wherever their content is displayed.

A content receiver user having content stored on their own local contentdomain may also be able to register and manage content stored on thatlocal content domain using the MDMS 110, and for discovery and use usingtheir content receiver. In this case, the content receiver user iseffectively another content owner.

The MDMS 110 implements a range of functions, namely:

-   -   a. The registration of Internet video sources and libraries to        enable the search, discovery, navigation and playing of content        on multiple TV device types;    -   b. The registration of interactive destinations and TV        applications to enable their search, discovery, navigation and        access on multiple types of TV device;    -   c. The management of content branding, media searches,        recommendations, interactive links and promotions for content        owners (including advertising and sponsorships) such that the        correct branding and facilities are displayed to the viewer        whenever their content is being accessed, across multiple types        of TV device—this capability is common to TV broadcasters,        Internet video aggregators, and interactive application owners;    -   d. The registration of “users”—such as TV viewers, and the        management of their personalisation information, such that a        viewer's identity and personalisation information is available        across multiple types of TV device;    -   e. The provision of a range of content discovery services, such        as:        -   i) Centralised search across all content;        -   ii) Content recommendations;        -   iii) Content sharing between community members;        -   iv) Content promotion for content owners;        -   v) Resolution of TV Keys™    -   f. The implementation of distribution arrangements and rights        restrictions for content owners, particularly the enforcement of        territory rights restrictions.    -   g. Centralised subscription payments services and micro billing        (billing for individual content items) for all content owners;    -   h. Advertising services which may comprise a range of products,        for example:        -   i) “click through” advertising links to video or interactive            destinations;        -   ii) Insertion of video advertising in playlists and video            content consumption;        -   iii) Interfacing to standard 3^(rd) party Internet ad            serving infrastructures and campaign management and sales            facilities; and        -   iv) The provision of viewer targeting data to 3^(rd) party            ad serving engines.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the MDMS 110 and components thereofaccording to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

The MDMS 110 includes a network interface 112 providing a route throughwhich the MDMS 110 is coupled to the communications network 104. TheMDMS 110 communicates with the content sources and content receiversover the communications network 104 via the network interface. Contentreceived at the MDMS 110 from the content sources may include, forexample, content metadata to feed a search and retrieval module (e.g.Web feeds such as RSS XML feeds), content owner branding data forapplication to content to be displayed, other content owner rulesrelating to display and consumption of their content.

A content owner configuration module 114 of the MDMS 110 is configuredto provide a mechanism for content owners to register and manage theircontent. The content owner configuration module 114 comprises aprocessor and a data storage module.

When initially registering their content with the MDMS 110 to make suchcontent available to viewers having content receivers configured toreceive such content via the MDMS 110, content owners conduct a set-upprocess using the content owner configuration module 114. This set-upprocess may be conducted by the content owner, perhaps at a remotelocation, by way of a content owner terminal, for example, a PC,arranged to communicate with the content owner configuration module 114via the communications network 104 and network interface 112.

In an example, the content owner could use the PC to navigate to aspecific web-page to initiate the set-up process. The content ownerconfiguration module 114, upon receiving a request for the web-page datafrom the PC, transmits the relevant web-page data to the PC of thecontent owner to allow the content owner to conduct the set-up process.The content owner is presented with a content owner interface whichdisplays a number of functions relating to how it wishes to configureits content. In this regard, the content owner can define:

-   -   Its MediaRSS feeds and associated parameters that will be        retrived by the content indexer 118. This is so that the content        owners content items can be presented to a user in search        results and recommendations when they are relevant to the search        or recommendation being perfomed by the MDMS 110.    -   Content item presentation information such as their branding    -   The categories of content they support e.g. general video, news        etc.    -   Content subscription packages and pricing and the rules used to        identify the content items that belong to each subscription        package.    -   Distribution arrangements such as the OEMs or service providers        (collectively termed operators) on whose content receivers their        content is to be made available and/or in which territories        their content can be made available.

The content owner may also wish to configure a content menu applicationto be made available to the viewer when the viewer is consuming contentfrom that content owner. Again, this content menu registration optionmay be specified during the initial set-up process or at a later time.The content menu registration option also provides the content ownerwith the ability to configure specific menu items which access servicesof the MDMS such as: a search application which allows a viewer tosearch only within content of that content owner; a contentrecommendations application which provides a viewer with recommendationsfrom the content of that content owner; quasi-channel applications inwhich themed content from that content owner is arranged into suchquasi-channels either statically or dynamically using pre-definedsearches and recommendations which can then be performed without datainput from the end viewer; and an advertising application whereby spaceon the content menu of that content owner can be sold for advertising orcan be used to promote specific content from that content owner with theability to click through the advertising to a piece of content or aninteractive destination.

The content owner indicates that the content is configured as theyrequire it to be using the content owner interface of the web-pagedisplayed at their terminal and, upon such indication; the terminaltransmits this configuration parameters data via the communicationsnetwork 104 and network interface 112 to the content owner configurationmodule 114. Upon receipt of the data, the content owner configurationmodule 114 sends a confirmation to the content owner terminal that theconfiguration parameters data has been received and stores theconfiguration parameters data within its data storage module.

Although described from the viewpoint of a content owner specifyingtheir requirements, a service provider and/or an OEM and/or an end user(e.g. a viewer) could specify their own branding and presentationrequirements and menus using the same interface, though the optionsavailable for configuration may be different for these different roles.

The data storage module of the content owner configuration module 114 isconfigured to maintain a database of the content configurationparameters data for retrieval by a content manager 116 which cansubsequently apply the content configuration parameters data to contentto be transmitted to content receivers.

The MDMS 110 is arranged to retrieve the content metadata configured bythe content owners to enable the provision of content search andrecommendations to content receivers. The content metadata is retrievedover the communications network by the content indexer 118, optionallyas a media RSS XML feed. The content indexer 118 retrieves the contentowner feed configurations from the content owner configuration 114,retrieving and processing the content owner feeds as specified. Thecontent indexer 118 augments the metadata retrieved from the contentowner with derived data using MDMS rules (such as the appropriate MDMSquality classification and the protocols and codecs implied by the oneor more content references) and data derived using the relevant contentowner configuration retrieved from the content owner configuration 114(such as the presentation information, distribution networks andterritories and the subscription packages that each content item isassociated). The XML metadata for each content item is then passed to asearch and retrieval module 120 which indexes and stores the contentmetadata data in its associated storage.

The received content metadata includes data (e.g. a URL) identifying alocation at the content source of the actual content instances to whichit relates (with each content instance being associated with a differentprotocol/codec/bandwidth combination) and thus the search and retrievalmodule 120 maintains a list of content references for each content itemregistered by content owners.

A search and recommendations module 122 is arranged as an access layerto the search and retrieval module 120. This exposes a straightforwardXML based services API to the content manager 116 for each of theservice requests the content manager 116 requires and implements each ofthese requests utilising one or more of the proprietary APIs andservices provided by the search and retrieval module 120.

The MDMS 110 further comprises an identity services module 124comprising a processor and a user identity storage module. The useridentity storage module of the identity services module 124 isconfigured to store data relating to identities corresponding todifferent users of a content receiver, e.g. an identity for eachindividual member of a household. This module provides a user profiledata model to be associated with the identities which may comprise:

-   -   nickname    -   personal details including a unique mobile number and/or email        address    -   viewing and content preferences including PIN protection        settings    -   content receivers that this profile is associated with    -   purchased subscriptions and content items    -   content item history    -   content item ratings    -   content item bookmarks and playlist tags

Various user actions on the content receiver initiate communication withthe identity service module 124 some of which result in the currentusers profile being updated by the identity services module 124.Examples of these communications include: editing and saving userdetails and preferences, viewing bookmarks, bookmarking a content item,rating a content item, viewing a content item etc. A default identity ofa content receiver may be tied to a unique identifier of the contentreceiver itself which is used when no individual identity has beenidentified. This default identity may be associated with the subscriberdetails where the content receiver has been provisioned by a serviceprovider.

With this arrangement, profile information of users (including, forexample, feedback from their consumption of content) can be used toimprove targeting and particularly recommendations of content tospecific users. This is achieved by the identity services module 124creating user profiles in the search and retrieval module 120 andpopulating these with the content items consumed by each user profile.The search and retrieval module can then make consumption informed userrecommendations when requested by the search and recommendations module122.

In response to reception at the MDMS 110 of an instruction from acontent receiver to switch user (such instruction invoked by a useraction in relation to the content receiver, i.e. selection of a userassociated with the content receiver and optionally the entering of apersonal identification number (PIN) code, e.g. via a remote control),the instruction, user identifier, receiver identifier and optional PINare delivered to the identity services module 124 via network interface112. The identity services module 124 retrieves the relevant usersprofile data from its storage module, checks the PIN if required and, ifsuccessful, records the new user as the current user for this contentreceiver in its storage module and generates and returns to the contentreceiver the user menu appropriate for this user on this contentreceiver. This new user menu may result in additional requests from thecontent receiver to the content manager 116 to populate content items(such as the user content recommendations).

When a user of a content receiver wishes to search for specific contentand initiates a search via their content receiver to search for suchspecific content (described later), a search request is received by thenetwork interface 112 via the communications network 104 for the contentreceiver and delivered to the content manager 116. The content manager116 then constructs the search query adding a number of additionalconstraints to the search that are derived from the capabilities andattributes of the content receiver. In particular the content receivermay provide the content receiver identifier, type and operator as partof the search request and the source IP address can be determined fromthe TCP/IP networking protocols. These are passed to the contentreceiver profiler 136 which determines and returns:

-   -   The protocols and codecs supported by this type of content        receiver. This data is configured and stored for each type of        content receiver in the content receiver profiler 136. The        dataset for this type of content receiver is retrieved from this        store.    -   The operator associated with this content receiver.    -   The bandwidth capability of this content receiver's network.        This bandwidth would have been submitted to the content receiver        profiler 136 by the content receiver during an earlier bandwidth        test, typically performed on booting the content receiver and        stored by the content receiver profiler against the content        receiver identifier.    -   The determined territory of the content receiver. This is        derived from the source IP of the content receiver using an IP        to geographical location (in this instance, territory) mapping        table.

The content manager 116 then instructs the search and recommendationsmodule 122 to execute the constructed search query. The search andrecommendations module 122 extracts the search parameter data from therequest in order to address the specific interface of the search andretrieval module 120. The search is then performed by the search andretrieval module 120 as instructed by the search and recommendationsmodule 122 and the metadata of the relevant content items is retrievedand returned to the content manager 116. These search results are thentransmitted to the content receiver from which the search request wasreceived. Further details relating to the processing of data for thisoutgoing transmission will be discussed later.

The effect of the combination of this constrained search queryimplemented by the content manager 116 against the content metadataaugmented by the content indexer 118 is to ensure that only contentappropriate for and functional on the content receiver is presented tothe user. This process applies to recommendations and other contentrequests.

When a user of a content receiver instigates a search, any contentresults returned to the user may optionally be tailored for that userbased upon the user's profile. Thus, in this case, the content manager116, upon receipt of a content request via the network interface 112adds further constraints to the search query. First it requests the userprofile data related to the current user who requested the search to theidentity services module 124. The identity services module 124 retrievesthe user profile data and returns this to the content manager 116. Thecontent manager 116 amends the search request data to include anyrelevant profile settings (such as safe search i.e. no adult content) asadditional terms in the search query prior to submitting the query tothe search and recommendations module 122. Upon reception of suchamended search request data, the search and recommendations module 122proceeds in the manner described above to retrieve the metadata ofcontent items relevant to the search request and these search resultsare returned to the content manager 116. In addition the content manager116 may augment the content item metadata returned with relevant userspecific metadata such as the user's rating, any user tags, whether ornot the user is already entitled to view the content as part of one oftheir active subscription packages etc. before transmitting the contentmetadata to the user's content receiver. Thus a personalised form ofcontent presentation can be delivered to the user while stillmaintaining the requirements and constraints of other parties (i.e.content owner, etc.).

In some instances a further variation of the above scheme may beutilised, particularly when a user has knowledge of the content itemsbeing displayed (such as their bookmarked content items), where contentitems that are not functional on the device are still returned in theresults but have their content item metadata further augmented toindicate that they are non-functional content items. This avoids theuser thinking that the system has lost content items that they are awareof if they move between content receivers with different capabilities.

The MDMS 110 offers a range of functions to a user of a content receiverwhich might include, for example: video search and recommendations;interacting with content provider menus; registering new profiles(individual identities); administering payment instruments and billing,transactions and payments authorisation; managing favourites, playlistsand history;

interacting with messages and other users; and setting up userpreferences and options.

A display format for display of the content owner specified and/orpersonalised form of content on a display screen is delivered to acontent receiver from the content manager 116 via network interface 112and communications network 104. This display format is controlled by thecontent manager 116 based upon the content configuration parameters datastored in the data storage module of the content owner configurationmodule 114 and/or the user profile data stored for the current user inthe storage module of the identity services 124

The display format is delivered in markup which describes how to displaythe required functionality of the user interface either via a graphicalmenu on the TV screen or via a browser application on the contentreceiver or a third party interactive TV engine.

Communication between the content receiver 108 and MDMS 110 takes placevia the content receiver services module 126 which is arranged toservice requests from the content receiver 108, enforce security andaccess controls for protected premium content and may compile XMLcontent responses into a binary representation of XML for efficientcommunications and processing on the content receiver.

The content receiver services module 126 comprises the followingmodules: content manager 116 (as hereinbefore described); identityservices module 124 (also hereinbefore described); content enforcementmodule 128; payment services module 130; and image transcoder 132.

The content enforcement module 128 is the element of the contentreceiver services module 126 configured to gate and authorise theplaying of protected (e.g. premium or restricted) content. The contentenforcement module 128 operates in conjunction with a payment servicesmodule 130, subscription management module 134, the identiy services 124and the content receiver profiler. Such enforcement is implemented bychecking territory restrictions, subscription entitlements, informingthe user of any gating actions required (e.g. PIN entry required,purchase required, etc.) and requesting authorised content URLs fromcontent owners to provide a content receiver access to a content item.In this regard, a request for a content URL is sent from the contentreceiver and received at the MDMS 110 via the network interface andforwarded to the content enforcement module 128. The content enforcementmodule 128 first makes a request to the search and retrieval module 120for content metadata relating to the content item which the user hasrequested. The processor of the search and retrieval module 120retrieves the content metadata from the data storage module of thesearch and retrieval module 120 and returns the retrieved contentmetadata to the content enforcement module 128. If the content item isidentified as a premium content item the content enforcement module 128requests the current users subscription entitlements from thesubscription management module 134. The subscription management module134 retrieves and returns the users active subscription entitlements tothe content enforcement module 128 and the content enforcement module128 checks these against the content item subscription packages todetermine if the user is entitled to view the content item. If thecontent item is identified as being restricted by territory the contentenforcement module 128 requests the content receiver's territory fromthe content receiver profiler 136 and checks if the content receiver isentitled to access the content item. Finally the content item is checkedto see if it is marked as restricted.

If all conditions are met and the user is eligible to view the contentthe URL of the content item is transmitted by the content enforcementmodule 128, via the network interface 112, to the content receiver. Uponreception of the content URL the content receiver can then retrieve andplay the requested content item from the content owner's content source.Optionally the content enforcement module 128 may request a contentaccess authorisation token from the content owner which is transmittedto the content receiver and used by the content reciever when retrievingthe content item. This enables the content owner to restrict access totheir content to trusted MDMS content receivers.

If, as a result of a determination by the content enforcement module 128the content requested by a user cannot be viewed by that user then thecontent enforcement module 128 transmits, via the network interface 112,to the content receiver one of a number of response conditions:

-   -   Subscription required with the subscription offers. The offers        are presented and if one selected a payment process is initiated        by the content receiver against the payment services module 130.        On completion of this process the content URL is re-requested        from the content enforcement module 128.    -   PIN required. The PIN is then submitted with a re-request for        the content URL which is checked by the identity services module        124 before the content URL is returned.    -   Unauthorised content. Access to the content is denied.

When a payment process is initiated against the payment services module130 the content receiver issues a request to the payment services module130 which returns for payment details to the content receiver. Thiscauses the content receiver to effect display of a payment detailsrequest message on an associated display device. In response to themessage a user may have the options of rejecting the request for paymentdetails or accepting the request. If the request is accepted, the useris prompted to enter appropriate payment details which are returned tothe payment services module 130 via the communications network 104 andnetwork interface 112. As will be appreciated, the user commands inresponse to the payment details request may be entered via a userinterface device, such as a remote control, of the content receiver.

When payment details data is received, confirmed and successfullyprocessed by the payment services module 130, it transfers thesubscription purchased to the subscription management module 134 whereit is stored against the current user in the associated subscriptionstorage module. The subscription management 134 also forwards thisinformation to the identity services module 124 to update the userprofile data relating to that user to include the subscription packageupgrade.

Image transcoder 132 is configured to re-encode images stored instandard web formats (e.g. portable network graphics (PNG), JPEG) to aformat supported by any given content receiver. Thus, when image data istransmitted to a content receiver, the image transcoder 132 ensures thatsuch images are supported for display by that content receiver. Thecontent receiver informs the image transcoder the source image URL andwhat image format it requires. The image transcoder 132 retrieves thesource image URL over the network interface 112 and then transcodes theimage into one of the required formats bofore transmitting thetranscoded image to the content receiver.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a content receiver 108, componentsthereof and components related thereto. The content receiver 108receives content via the communications network 104 and broadcast videodistribution network 106 and can transmit data to the MDMS 110 viacommunications network 104. Whilst data paths are illustrated betweensome elements of the content receiver 108, not all data paths areillustrated for the purposes of clarity.

The content receiver 108 comprises a hardware components layer 138, aOS, drivers and middleware layer 139 and a software applications layer140. Applications in the OS, drivers and middleware layer 139 andsoftware applications layer 140 are arranged to run on a processor (CPU)141 of the content receiver 108.

Along with CPU 141, the hardware layer 138 comprises a distributionreceiver 142, a network interface 146, a video decoder 143, an audioprocessor 1430, a graphics processor 144, a content output module 145, amemory component (RAM) 147 and an input receiver 150.

The distribution receiver 142 (such as a tuner for receiving aterrestrial digital television broadcast) receives content at thecontent receiver 108 from the broadcast video distribution network 106.The data portion of such received content is communicated to the CPU 141which, in conjunction with an electronic programme guide application(EPG) 148 running thereon, processes EPG data for use by the EPGapplication

A video portion of the received content from the broadcast videodistribution network 106 is decoded using the video decoder 143 which isinstructed by the CPU 141 to retrieve video content from thedistribution receiver 142 (typically using direct memory access to theRAM 147). The video content is prepared for output on the contentdisplay 149 by the content output module 145. The content output module145 overlays any graphic output required by any of the softwareapplications identified in the software applications layer 140 as outputby the graphics processor 144 under instruction from the CPU 141 overthe video content and outputs the combined output to the contentdisplay.

An audio portion of the received content from the broadcast videodistribution network 106 is processed by the audio processor 1430 andoutput to the content display 149.

Output protocols supported by the hardware of the content receiver 108may comprise one or more of: High Definition Multimedia Interface(HDMI); Component Video; SCART; Composite Video and audio outputs suchas Dolby Digital and stereo analogue,

The OS, drivers and middleware layer 139 comprises a graphics layermodule 151, a networking services module 152, an audio services module153, a personal video recorder (PVR) sub-system module 154, a digitalvideo broadcasting (DVB) stack module (156), a storage services module156, a system services module 157, and an operating system application161 and drivers 162. These modules are conventional features on manycontent receivers (such as set-top boxes). Further description of thesemodules will therefore only be provided where necessary in relation tothe functioning of one or more embodiments of the present invention.

Input receiver 150 is arranged to receive commands for controlling thecontent receiver 108, such commands being input by a user by way of aninput device 158. The commands may be entered using, for example, aset-top box remote control device through which commands are entered bythe user by pressing specific keys of the remote control device. Acontrol signal from the remote control is transmitted to the contentreceiver 108 by any suitable means, e.g. infra-red transmission.

The software applications layer 140 of the content receiver 108comprises: an EPG module 148 (referred to above); a browser application159; and a media display management module application (MDMM) 160.

Although a browser application is shown in the illustrated embodiment,other suitable interactive display engines may be used, e.g. a flashengine or SVG engine.

The MDMM 160 runs on the CPU 141 and configures the CPU 141 forcommunication (via network interface 146) with the MDMS 110 in order tomanage content received at the content receiver 108 over thecommunications network 104. Commands input by a user requesting deliveryof a content item to the content receiver 108 are received at the inputreceiver 150 and communicated to CPU 141 which implements the MDMM 160to request content data appropriate to the command from the MDMS 110.

Where the CPU 141 instructs the video decoder 143 and audio processor1430 to process video received over the communications network 104 viathe network interface 146 this will be marshalled by the CPU 141 in RAM147 and then the video and audio portions will be retrieved by the videodecoder 143 and audio processor 1430 using DMA in the same manner aswhen the video was received over the broadcast video distributionnetwork 106 via the distribution receiver 142.

CPU 141 also implements MDMM 160 to manage and control content receivedat the content receiver 108 over the broadcast video distributionnetwork 106.

FIG. 5 shows a screenshot 170 of a screen displayed by a contentnavigation module when invoked by a user. In a particular example, theuser may enter commands to initiate navigation to such a module. Forinstance, a viewer menu module may be invoked, for example, by a userpressing a “Left” button on a remote control when viewing broadcast TVcontent, and a viewer content navigation module is then reached by wayof a further keypress (e.g. selecting an item in the menu). A brandedcontent owner menu may be invoked, for example, by a user pressing a“Right” button on a remote control when viewing broadcast TV content. Abranded content owner content navigation module is then reached by wayof a further keypress (e.g. selecting an item in the menu).Alternatively, the content navigation module could be invoked directlye.g. pressing a “Red” button on a remote control.

Although this example relates to a content navigation module, othermodules or menus (e.g. content owner, contenr receiver, and viewermenus, mini content guide (related to content currently being viewed)and expanded content guide (again related to content currently beingviewed)) are envisaged and these may be navigated to using similar userinput commands on a remote control. How these different capabilities aredesigned and invoked and when they are made available to the user formsa key part of the orchestration of competing parties aspirations in theuser interface. For example a content owner menu may be available bypressing the “Right” button on the remote control when watching acontent item. The particular content menu displayed is determined by therules of the MDMM 160 to be the content menu for the currently activecontent item.

Template data for the content navigation module screen illustrated inFIG. 5 is stored in the data storage module of content ownerconfiguration module 114 of the MDMS 110. The template data is populatedby the configuration parameters data (described above) stored in thedata storage module and so the format of the content navigation modulescreen will vary for different Operators, content providers and OEMcontexts because these will all have specified different configurationparameters data. The template data, however represents a theconfiguration options available and when combined with particularconfiguration parameters data specifies a particular instance of thecontent navigation module as specified by a particular party.

A content navigation module initiation command input by a user isreceived by the CPU 141 which implements the MDMM 160 to requesttemplate data for the content navigation module screen from the MDMS110. This template data is retrieved from the data storage module ofcontent owner configuration module 114 of the MDMS 110 and sent to thecommunications network via the network interface 112. The contentreceiver 108 receives the template data via network interface 146. TheCPU 141 instructs the graphics processor 144 to retrieve and renderoverlay graphics from the RAM 147 and these overlay graphics arecombined with template data in the content output 145 for processing fordisplay of the content navigation module on the content display 149.

The content navigation module may be embedded as sub-content (i.e. asub-image) in content received at the content receiver and which contentnavigation module can be invoked whilst viewing the content by enteringan appropriate command via a user input device 158. The contentnavigation module may also be treated as stand-alone content which neednot be invoked whilst viewing content, but which can be invoked whilstperforming any operation on the content receiver.

The screen of the content navigation module contains a search term entryfield 172, a list of popular search terms 174, a virtual keyboard 176and an instructions field 177.

A user may populate the search term entry field 172 using commands inputvia a user input device (such as a TV or set-top box remote control). Byperforming presses or multiple presses of numeric keys on the remotecontrol (in a manner similar to character entry when creating text of anSMS) a user can enter alphanumeric characters in the search term entryfield 172. A delete function may be assigned to a specific key (e.g. aleft arrow key) to allow a user to delete characters if errors are made.

The virtual keyboard 176 can also be used to select alphanumericcharacters in order to populate the search term entry field 172. Acursor comprising a movable indication or pointer feature can be used todenote which of the search term entry field 172, list of popular searchterms 174, or virtual keyboard is currently, or is to be in use. Inorder to switch between the search term entry field 172 and the virtualkeyboard 176, the user may invoke such a switch by pressing anappropriate key on the remote control having a switch function assignedthereto (e.g. a right arrow key) to move the cursor from the search termentry field to the virtual keyboard 176. A particular alphanumericcharacter (e.g. the letter “A”) of the virtual keyboard 176 may be thedefault character indicated by the cursor when the virtual keyboard 176is invoked. Navigation of the cursor around the keyboard is achieved byway of remote control keys having appropriate movement functionsassigned thereto (e.g. Up, Down, Left, Right arrow keys). A conventionalTV or set-top box remote control may be suitable. When a desiredcharacter has been reached, it is added to the search term entry field172 by pressing a remote control key having an appropriate selectfunction assigned thereto (e.g. Select key).

During the population process, the user commands are received by CPU 141of the content receiver. The CPU 141 instructs the graphics processor144 to retrieve overlay graphics data from the RAM 147 and these arepassed to the content output 145 for updating the display.

In the illustrated embodiment, letter characters are the only type ofalphanumeric characters shown on the virtual keyboard 176. However, thevirtual keyboard may have a “123” icon which can be selected totransform the alphabetical keyboard to a numeric keyboard. When in thenumeric keyboard state, the “123” icon will be replaced by an “ABC” iconto allow return to the alphabetic keyboard. In the same manner,different language (e.g. character sets such as Arabic or Hebrew)virtual keyboards can be supported as required by the operator, user,OEM or content owner configurations.

Aside from alphabetic and numeric characters and icons for switchingbetween virtual keyboards appropriate to each, there are also displayed“Space”, “Delete” and “Search” icons, with selection of the “Space”function implementing corresponding insertion of a space betweencharacters in the search term entry field 172, and selection of the“Delete” function implementing deletion of a character in the searchterm entry field 172. Selection of the “Search” function executes asearch for content based upon a search term entered in the search termentry field 172. The CPU 141, configured by the MDMM 160, sends a searchrequest to the network interface 146 for transmission via thecommunications network 104 to the MDMS 110. The search request isreceived at the network interface 112 of the MDMS 110 and transferred tothe content manager 116. Content manager 116 requests data from thesearch and recommendations module 122 based upon the data in the searchrequest indicating the input search terms. The search andrecommendations module 122 addresses search and retrieval module 120 tolocate appropriate content data identifier items. If relevant contentdata identifier items are located by the search and recommendationsmodule 122, these are transmitted to the content manager 116. Thecontent manager 116 requests configuration parameters data for thecontent data identifier items from the data storage module of contentowner configuration module 114. These are located and returned to thecontent manager 116 which forwards both the content data identifieritems found as a result of the search and the configuration parametersdata to the network interface 112 for transmission to the contentreceiver 108. The content data identifier items found as a result of thesearch and the configuration parameters data are received at the contentreceiver by the network interface 146 and transferred to the CPU 141which instructs the graphics processor 144 to retrieve overlay graphicsdata from the RAM 141. The retrieved overlay graphics data is thenpassed to the content output 145 which processes the content dataidentifier items and updates the display screen data. Such displayscreen data, updated with the search results (i.e. the content dataidentifier items) is passed to the content display 149 to display thecontent navigation module populated with the search results.

The list of popular search terms 174 comprises a list of a plurality(e.g. twenty) of the most popular search terms, where the list isdetermined by characters entered in the search term entry field 172. Ascharacters are populated in the search term entry field 172, the list ofpopular search terms 174 is updated. For example, if a user populates“A” in the search term entry field 172 then the list will contain aplurality of the most popular search terms beginning with the letter A.Such population proceeds via the same process as described above inrelation to the display of search results.

The user can navigate the list using remote control keys havingappropriate movement functions assigned thereto (e.g. Down and Up arrowkeys) and can select a search term from the list to populate the searchterm entry field 172 by using, for example, a Select key of the remotecontrol.

The list of popular search terms 174 may be arranged with most popularterms at the top thereof and with lower terms being of decreasingpopularity.

Where no search term is populated in the search term entry field 172,then as a default, the list of popular search terms 174 may comprise,for example, the twenty “Most Popular” search terms. These may berelevant to the user's profile, for example, based on age, language, orlocation.

The instructions field 179 includes instructions to a user forimplementing functions of the content navigation module. In theillustrated example screenshot 170 it is indicated 178, 179 that aparticular key of the remote control having an appropriate functionassigned thereto (e.g. Red key) can initiate the search, and a differentkey of key of the remote control having an appropriate function assignedthereto (e.g. Green key) should be pressed to allow the user to accesstheir saved searches.

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show screenshots 180 of an example search resultsscreen displayed by the content navigation module to show results of asearch invoked by the user. The exact layout, functionality and brandingof this screen would be determined by the OEM, operator and contentowner configurations as well as user preference configurations.

The search results screen of the content navigation module contains asearch term field 182, a list of content identifier items 184, a cursor186 (shown in FIG. 6 a but not in FIG. 6 b), categories under which thesearch results were found 188, filtering options 190, an associatedcontent list 192, an associated content list cursor 193 (shown in FIG. 6b but not in FIG. 6 a) and an options field 194.

The search terms entered by the user of the content receiver using thecontent navigation module described above in relation to FIG. 5 aredisplayed in the search term field 182. The user has the option of usingsearch filters selected from the filtering options 190 to refine theirsearch results and, in doing so, each selected search filter will bepopulated alongside the search terms entered by the user. Thus a searchmodified from the user's initially entered search terms may appear inthe form

“Search name+1^(st) filter applied +2^(nd) filter applied” and whichmodified search term is then used to obtain updated search results froma content feed.

The filtering options 190 are arranged as a list of categoryrefinements, e.g. Content Type (such as Music, Movies, User generatedcontent, TV programmes), Quality, Content Provider, Genre, Sort results,Language, User tagged content, and Reset all filters. A number may bedisplayed against each category refinement and to which acorrespondingly numbered key on a remote control of the content receiverwill, when pressed, invoke the display of a host of sub-categoriesrelated to the selected category to allow the user to further refine thesearch results.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 6 a and 6 b, if the user presses the“6” key for the “Quality” category, the filter list changes to show subcategories such as High Definition (HD), Standard Definition (SD), andboth HD and SD. If, for example, the user selects the HD sub-category,an indication is displayed adjacent the “Quality” filtering option onthe main category refinements list of filtering options 190 to indicatethat there is category refinement under the “Quality” filtering option.The search term field 182 is updated to include “HD” in the modifiedsearch term.

The list of content identifier items 184 comprises a vertical list ofidentifier items relating to content found through the search. As adefault, the identifier items are arranged with the most relevantidentifier items at the top of the list. The content identifier itemsprovide at least a name of the content (e.g. Title) and serve as linksto the content they identify. Thus, if a user selects a particularcontent identifier item, the content will then be displayed to the user.An input command received by the user input is communicated to the CPU141 which determines if the requested content is available via thebroadcast video distribution network or the communication network. Ifavailable via the broadcast video distribution network, the CPU 141sends a control signal to the distribution receiver 142 to ensure thatan appropriate gateway is open (e.g. correct TV channel selected) toreceive the content at the content receiver. Additionally, the CPU 141sends a notification to the content manager 116 of the MDMS 110 via thecommunications network that such content is being obtained. The contentmanager 116 communicates with the data storage module of the contentowner configuration module 114 to locate appropriate parameters to beapplied to the content and, upon location, transfers the same to thecontent receiver 108 via the communications network. Upon receipt of thecontent at the distribution receiver 142 of the content receiver 108,the content passes to the video decoder which applies the parametersreceived from the MDMS 110 to the content.

If the content is available via the communication network, a contentrequest is sent by the CPU 141 via the network interface 146 to thecommunication network 104 for transmission to the MDMS 110. Upon receiptof the request, the network interface 112 transfers the request to thecontent manager 116 which acquires location data (e.g. a URL) of therequested content from the content indexer 118 (via the content ownerconfiguration module 114) and returns the location data of the contentsource via the communications network 104 to the content receiver 108.The CPU 141 upon receipt of the location data then requests the contentfrom a content source using the location data.

Cursor 186 (as illustrated in FIG. 6 a, but not FIG. 6 b) comprises amovable indication feature which highlights one content identifier itemin the list of content identifier items 184. The cursor is movablevertically from a first position where a first content identifier itemis highlighted to a second adjacent position where a second contentidentifier item is highlighted responsive to user input via the remotecontrol (e.g. Up/Down keys of the remote control).

When the cursor 186 is located over a content identifier item, thehighlighted item may be enlarged (compared with other content identifieritems in the list of content identifier items 184) and/or gain a border.Additionally, further information relating to the content may bedisplayed within the content identifier item (e.g. Quality (HD/SD),Premium Icon (to indicate that payment is required to view the content),age certificate icon, a content owner logo, content length, whether thecontent is broadcast video or Internet video content, and one linesynopsis of content).

The content identifier items may comprise one or more of: image data;video data; and text data. The image data may comprise images and/oricons in a particular format e.g. JPEG.

The cursor 186 may also comprise a directional indicator to indicate toa user that the list can be navigated using Up/Down arrows of the remotecontrol. If the cursor is positioned over the first item in the listonly a down indicator should be visible and, likewise, if the cursor ispositioned over the last item in the list, only an up indicator shouldbe visible.

The, categories under which the search results were found 188 mayinclude categories such as “Local”, “General”, “News” and “Adult”. Anumber associated with each category indicates the number of contentitems found in the search under that particular category. The actualcategories displayed may be dynamically determined by the MDMS based onthe results listed.

Associated content list 192 comprises a horizontal list arranged belowthe list of content identifier items 184, and which includes contentitems associated with the content identifier item currently highlightedin the list of content identifier items 184. The associated content list192 is a dynamic list which changes as the content identifier itemhighlighted in the list of content identifier items 184 changes. Thecontent identifier items of the associated content list 192 serve aslinks to the content they identify. Thus, if a user selects a particularcontent identifier item, the content will then be displayed to the user.

In the illustrated example, the content identifier items in theassociated content list 192 are recommendations based upon thehighlighted item in the list of content identifier items 184. Further,the associated content list is, in the illustrated example, in acarousel arrangement.

To access the associated content list 192 from a list of contentidentifier items 184 a user presses remote control keys havingappropriate movement functions assigned thereto (e.g. Left/Right arrowkeys) to move focus to the associated content list 192. In a particulararrangement, pressing a Left/Right arrow key once will shift focus tothe associated content list 192, the list of content identifier items184 will fade, the cursor 186 will disappear and the screen displayedwill be that as illustrated in FIG. 6 b. Pressing up/down arrow keyswill shift focus back to the list of content identifier items 184, theassociated content list 192 will fade and the screen will revert to thedisplay illustrated in FIG. 6 a.

Associated content list cursor 193 (illustrated in FIG. 6 b but not 6 a)only appears when focus is changed to the associated content list in themanner described above. The associated content list cursor 193 comprisesa movable indication feature which highlights one associated contentidentifier item in the associated content list 192. The cursor ismovable horizontally from a first position where a first associatedcontent identifier item is highlighted to a second adjacent positionwhere a second associated content identifier item is highlightedresponsive to user input via the remote control (e.g. Left/Right keys ofthe remote control).

When the associated content list cursor 193 is located over a contentidentifier item, the highlighted item may be enlarged (compared withother associated content identifier items in the associated content list192) and/or gain a border. As a default option in a particulararrangement, the centre item of the associated content list 192 is theitem highlighted by the associated content list cursor 193. Pressing theLeft/Right keys rotates the carousel but the highlighted item remains inthe centre, i.e. the cursor remains stationary at the centre of theassociated content list 192 whilst the items move relative to it.

Additionally, further information relating to the associated contentitem currently highlighted may be displayed within the associatedcontent identifier item (e.g. a content owner logo, one line synopsis ofcontent).

The associated content list cursor 193 may also comprise a directionalindicator to indicate to a user that the list can be navigated usingLeft/Right arrows of the remote control. In the illustrated example, thelist is arranged in a carousel manner, and so both directions areindicated at all times.

The additional options field 194 presents further functions that can beperformed. In the illustrated example screenshot 180 it is indicatedthat a particular key of the remote control having an appropriatefunction assigned thereto (e.g. Red key) should be pressed to perform anew search, and a different key of the remote control having anappropriate function assigned thereto (e.g. Green key) should be pressedto allow the user to bookmark the highlighted item in the list. Furtheroptions might include the illustrated functions of a rating function(e.g. “Love this”) and “Save”. The “Love this” function allows a user torate the highlighted item in the list by pressing a Yellow key of theremote control and the “Save” function allows the user to save thesearch results by pressing the Blue key of the remote control.

Content items in the list may optionally display a number of relevantfocusable content sub-items arranged vertically, for example, options toplay SD or HD and to remove the item from the list.

FIG. 7 illustrates steps of a procedure in the content navigation moduleto provide access to additional content either during playback ofcontent (e.g. video sequences) on a content receiver or from anotherapplication (e.g. from a content receiver menu, viewer menu or contentprovider menu).

If the user wishes to invoke a content navigation module, the user mayinitiate the content navigation module on the content receiver (S700),for example by pressing a button (such as a Red button) on an inputdevice (e.g. remote control). When the content receiver accepts inputfrom the user that indicates the content navigation module should bestarted, the content receiver contacts the MDMS 110 to indicate that acontent navigation module has been invoked. Referring also to FIG. 4,the input receiver 150 forwards data to the MDMM 160 running on CPU 141indicating that the content navigation module has been invoked. The CPU141 sends a request for content navigation module display data to thenetwork interface 146 for onward transmission to the MDMS 110 viacommunication network 104. The request is received in the networkinterface 112 of the MDMS 110 and forwarded to the content manager 116.The content manager 116 requests the content navigation module displaydata from the data storage module of the content owner configurationmodule 114 which locates such content navigation module display data andreturns the same to the content manager 116. The content manager 116passes the content navigation module display data to the networkinterface 112 for transmission via the communications network 104 to thecontent receiver 108. Such content navigation module display data isreceived at the network interface 146 of the content receiver 108 andthen passed to the CPU 141 implementing MDMM 160. The MDMM 160 rendersthe specified content navigation module using the graphics processor144. The graphics output is then forwarded to the content output 145 andthe content navigation module is displayed on the content display 149(S702). The content navigation module is displayed, for example byoverlaying the graphics of the content navigation module over dynamicvideo content (e.g. either wholly or in a transparent format) orpresenting the graphics of the content navigation module as a standalone image without any content (dynamic or otherwise) behind. Thecontent navigation module may also be presented in a box wrapped aroundthe video (e.g. an L-shaped box) with the video content still playing.

At this point, the user can choose between entering charactersthemselves to form a search term, or selecting predefined or pre-savedsearch search terms (S704). If a predefined search is selected fromavailable options displayed on screen (S7040), the process jumpsdirectly to the search for content (S710) described later. However, if auser chooses to enter search terms themselves, then these may be enteredby the user using an available input device (e.g. remote control), thereceived characters forming a user search term (S706). Command datareceived at the input receiver 150 from the characters input via theinput device 158 is forwarded to the CPU 141. Input character data isforwarded to the graphics processor 144 where the input character datais encoded and forwarded from the graphics processor 144 to the contentoutput 145 to allow the content navigation module screen displayed onthe content display 149 to be updated as characters are entered.

When character entry is complete and the search term has been compiled,the user indicates such and requests a search by entering a commandthrough the input device 158. For example, inputting a control signalsuch as activating the “Run Search” user actuable icon. The MDMM 160determines that the search has been requested and responds by forwardingthe user search term data in a search request to the network interface146 for onward transmission to the MDMS 110 via communication network104 (S708). Network interface 112 of the MDMS 110 receives the requestand forwards it to the content manager 116 which transfers the searchterm data to the search and recommendations module 122 to initiate asearch (S710). The search and recommendations module runs the searchquery and retrieves the content item metadata for the search results andreturns these to the content manager 116.

The content manager 116 then outputs the content item metadata to thenetwork interface 112 for transmission via the communications network104 to the content receiver 108 (S712). This data is received at thenetwork interface 146 of the content receiver 108 and then passed to theCPU 141 running the MDMM 160 application which renders the searchresults in a search results page as previously described in relation toFIG. 6 using the graphics processor 144. The graphics output is thenforwarded to the content output 145 and the content navigation module isdisplayed on the content display 149 (S714).

At this point, the user may wish to view an item of content returned inthe search results or refine the search by indicating that searchfilters are to be applied (S716). If the user selects one or more searchfilters (S7160) to tailor the search as required (these are illustratedunder reference numeral 190 in FIG. 5), these filter terms are added tothe existing search terms (S7162) and the process returns to step S710in order for the search to be conducted again.

If no filtering is required, the user can select a content item to view(S718) by entering a command through the input device 158. When a viewcontent request is entered through the input device 158, the CPU 141 isnotified by the input receiver 150 that a request has been received toview content, CPU 141 proceeds to forward a request for the requestedcontent in a content request to the network interface 146 for onwardtransmission to the MDMS 110 via communication network 104 (S718). Therequest is received in the network interface 112 of the MDMS 110 andforwarded to the content enforcement module 128 which checks theentitlement of the user and content receiver to view the content (aspreviously described) and returns the content URL to the MDMM 160application on the content receiver 108 via the communication network104 (S720). The MDMM application then makes a request to the contentsource specified in the content URL via the network interface 146 andcommunications network 104 (S722).

The content source receives the request for content and retrieves suchcontent for return to the content receiver 108. The content istransmitted via the communications network 104 and received in thenetwork interface 146 of the content receiver 108 (S724). This data isretrieved by the CPU 141 and then passed to the video decoder 143 andaudio processor 1430. The video decoder 143 renders the content fordisplay and the content is then passed to the content output 145 toallow the content to be displayed on the content display along with theaudio output (S726).

In a particular arrangement, the list of content identifier items may beordered by relevance depending on how closely the content item matchesthe search terms. The ordering may also relate to the user's profile,for example, based on age, language, or location.

In the above arrangement, when content is requested from a list ofsearch results, the request for content is processed in the contentenforcement gateway before being passed to the content source. However,when content enforcement is not required for a content item, the contentURL could be included for each item in the search results so that theMDMM 160 does not have to query the MDMS 110 to determine the contentURL.

FIG. 8 shows a screenshot 196 of a screen displayed by a playlist modulewhen invoked by a user. A playlist comprises a list of contentidentifier items 200 comprising links to content. The playlist iscreated by a user and is stored in the data storage module of MDMS 110.

The playlists screen of the playlist module contains a module identifierfield 198, a list of content identifier items 200, a cursor 202, anassociated content list 204, an associated content list cursor 206 andan options field 208.

The type of module (in this case “playlist”) is displayed in the moduleidentifier field 198.

The list of content identifier items 200 comprises a vertical list ofidentifier items relating to content in the playlist. The contentidentifier items provide at least a name of the content (e.g. Title) andserve as links to the content they identify. Thus, if a user selects aparticular content identifier item, the content will then be displayedto the user using processes in a similar manner as described above.

Cursor 202 comprises a movable indication feature which highlights onecontent identifier item in the list of content identifier items 200. Thecursor is movable vertically from a first position where a first contentidentifier item is highlighted to a second adjacent position where asecond content identifier item is highlighted responsive to user inputvia the remote control (e.g. Up/Down keys of the remote control).

When the cursor 202 is located over a content identifier item, thehighlighted item may be enlarged (compared with other content identifieritems in the list of content identifier items 200) and/or gain a border.Additionally, further information relating to the content may bedisplayed within the content identifier item (e.g. Quality (HD/SD),Premium Icon (to indicate that payment is required to view the content),age certificate icon, a content owner logo, content length, and one linesynopsis of content).

The content identifier items may comprise one or more of: image data;video data; and text data. The image data may comprise images and/oricons in a particular format e.g. JPEG.

The cursor 202 may also comprise a directional indicator to indicate toa user that the list can be navigated using Up/Down arrows of the remotecontrol. If the cursor is positioned over the first item in the listonly a down indicator should be visible and, likewise, if the cursor ispositioned over the last item in the list, only an up indicator shouldbe visible.

Associated content list 204 comprises a horizontal list arranged belowthe list of content identifier items 200, and which includes contentitems associated with the content identifier item currently highlightedin the list of content identifier items 200. The associated content list204 is a dynamic list which changes as the content identifier itemhighlighted in the list of content identifier items 200 changes. Thecontent identifier items of the associated content list 204 serve aslinks to the content they identify. Thus, if a user selects a particularcontent identifier item, the content will then be displayed to the user.

In the illustrated example, the content identifier items 200 in theassociated content list 204 are recommendations based upon thehighlighted item in the list of content identifier items 200. Further,the associated content list is, in the illustrated example, in acarousel arrangement.

To access the associated content list 204 from a list of contentidentifier items 200 a user presses keys of a remote control havingappropriate movement functions assigned thereto (e.g. Left/Right arrowkeys) to move focus to the associated content list 204. In a particulararrangement, pressing a Left/Right arrow key once will shift focus tothe associated content list 204 and the list of content identifier items200 will fade, and pressing up/down arrow keys will shift focus back tothe list of content identifier items 200 and the associated content list204 will fade.

Associated content list cursor 206 comprises a movable indicationfeature which highlights one associated content identifier item in theassociated content list 204. The cursor is movable horizontally from afirst position where a first associated content identifier item ishighlighted to a second adjacent position where a second associatedcontent identifier item is highlighted responsive to user input via theremote control (e.g. Left/Right keys of the remote control).

When the associated content list cursor 206 is located over a contentidentifier item, the highlighted item may be enlarged (compared withother associated content identifier items in the associated content list204) and/or gain a border. As a default option in a particulararrangement, the centre item of the associated content list 204 is theitem highlighted by the associated content list cursor 206. Pressing theLeft/Right keys rotates the carousel but the highlighted item remains inthe centre, i.e. the cursor remains stationary at the centre of theassociated content list 204 whilst the items move relative to it.

Additionally, further information relating to the associated contentitem currently highlighted may be displayed within the associatedcontent identifier item (e.g. a content owner logo, one line synopsis ofcontent).

The associated content list cursor 206 may also comprise a directionalindicator to indicate to a user that the list can be navigated usingLeft/Right arrows of the remote control. In the illustrated example, thelist is arranged in a carousel manner, and so both directions areindicated at all times.

Although FIG. 8 illustrates cursor 202 and associated content listcursor 206 present at the same time, this need not be the case. Indeed,in an optional arrangement, when focus is on list of content identifieritems 200, then only the cursor 202 is displayed. However, when focuschanges to the associated content list 204, the cursor 202 disappearsand the associated content list cursor 206 appears around an item in theassociated content list 204. When focus changes back to the list ofcontent identifier items 200, the cursor 202 reappears and theassociated content list cursor 206 disappears. This arrangement issimilar to that described in relation to FIGS. 6 a and 6 b.

The additional options field 208 presents further functions that can beperformed. In the illustrated example screenshot 180 it is indicatedthat a particular key of the remote control having an appropriatefunction assigned thereto (e.g. Red key) should be pressed to perform asearch, and a different key of the remote control having an appropriatefunction assigned thereto (e.g. Green key) should be pressed to allowthe user to bookmark the highlighted item in the list. Further optionsmight include the illustrated functions of “Love this” and “Save”. The“Love this” function allows a user to rate the highlighted item in thelist by pressing a Yellow key of the remote control and the “Save”function allows the user to save the search results by pressing the Bluekey of the remote control.

FIG. 9 shows a screenshot 210 of a screen displayed by a TV guide modulewhen invoked by a user.

The TV guide screen of the TV guide module contains an information field212, a list of TV programme content identifier items 214, a cursor 216,an associated content list 218, an associated content list cursor 220and an options field 222.

The information field 212 displays, for example, the viewer logged in atthe content receiver, a number of the viewer's friends currently onlineversus a total number of friends, a number of unread messages in theviewer's inbox, and a current date and time.

The list of TV programme content identifier items 214 comprises avertical list of identifier items relating to content being broadcast inrelation to the channel currently being viewed. In a particular example,the current programme is shown along with subsequent programmes on thatchannel. As will be appreciated, there is no point in showing previousprogrammes in a linear broadcast environment, unless “catch-up” servicesare available via the communications network or PVR services since theopportunity to view previous programmes has passed. The contentidentifier items 214 provide at least a name of the content (e.g.programme title) and serve as links to the content they identify. Thus,if a user selects a particular content identifier item 214, the contentwill then be displayed to the user using processes in a similar manneras described above. The content identifier items 214 may further includemetadata providing a synopsis of the programme, a content owner logo, aninformation icon, and a start time (if the programme has not yetstarted).

Cursor 216 comprises a movable indication or pointer feature whichhighlights one content identifier item 214 in the list of TV programmecontent identifier items 214. The cursor 216 is movable vertically froma first position where a first content identifier item is highlighted toa second adjacent position where a second content identifier item ishighlighted responsive to user input via the remote control (e.g.Up/Down keys of the remote control).

When the cursor 216 is located over a content identifier item, thehighlighted item may be enlarged (compared with other content identifieritems in the list of content identifier items 200) and/or gain a border.

The content identifier items 214 may comprise one or more of: imagedata; video data; and text data. The image data may comprise imagesand/or icons in a particular format e.g. JPEG.

The cursor 216 may also comprise a directional indicator to indicate toa user that the list can be navigated using Up/Down arrows of the remotecontrol. If the cursor is positioned over the first item in the listonly a down indicator should be visible and, likewise, if the cursor ispositioned over the last item in the list, only an up indicator shouldbe visible.

Associated content list 218 comprises a horizontal list arranged belowthe list of TV programme content (or online media content (depending onthe configuration)) identifier items 214, and which includes contentitems associated with the content identifier item currently highlightedin the list of TV programme content identifier items 214. The associatedcontent list 218 is a dynamic list which changes as the contentidentifier item highlighted in the list of TV programme contentidentifier items 214 changes. Depending on the configuration (OEM,Operator or Content Owner (broadcaster), the content identifier items214 could relate to “catch-up” TV items, online content items from oneor more pre-defined sources, related broadcast shows or channels fromthe same broadcaster). The content identifier items of the associatedcontent list 218 serve as links to the content they identify. Thus, if auser selects a particular content identifier item, the content will thenbe displayed to the user.

In the illustrated example, the content identifier items in theassociated content list 218 are recommendations based upon thehighlighted item in the list of TV programme content identifier items214. Further, the associated content list is, in the illustratedexample, in a carousel arrangement.

To access the associated content list 218 from a list of TV programmecontent identifier items 214 a user presses remote control keys havingappropriate movement functions assigned thereto (e.g. Left/Right arrowkeys) to move focus to the associated content list 218. In a particulararrangement, pressing a Left/Right arrow key once will shift focus tothe associated content list 218 and the list of content identifier items214 will fade, and pressing up/down arrow keys will shift focus back tothe list of TV programme content identifier items 214 and the associatedcontent list 218 will fade.

Associated content list cursor 220 comprises a movable indicationfeature which highlights one associated content identifier item in theassociated content list 218. The cursor 216 is movable horizontally froma first position where a first associated content identifier item ishighlighted to a second adjacent position where a second associatedcontent identifier item is highlighted responsive to user input via theremote control (e.g. Left/Right keys of the remote control).

When the associated content list cursor 220 is located over a contentidentifier item, the highlighted item may be enlarged, or displayanother pre-programmed visual effect (for example a video thumb-nail)depending on the device capabilities, and OEM, operator or content ownerconfiguration (compared with other associated content identifier itemsin the associated content list 218) and/or gain a border. As a defaultoption in a particular arrangement, the centre item of the associatedcontent list 218 is the item highlighted by the associated content listcursor 220. Pressing the Left/Right keys rotates the carousel but thehighlighted item remains in the centre, i.e. the cursor remainsstationary at the centre of the associated content list 218 whilst theitems move relative to it.

Additionally, further meta-data information relating to the associatedcontent item currently highlighted may be displayed within theassociated content identifier item (e.g. a content owner logo, one linesynopsis of content).

The associated content list cursor 220 may also comprise a directionalindicator to indicate to a user that the list can be navigated usingLeft/Right arrows of the remote control. In the illustrated example, thelist is arranged in a carousel manner, and so both directions areindicated at all times.

Although FIG. 9 illustrates cursor 216 and associated content listcursor 220 present at the same time, this need not be the case. Indeed,in an optional arrangement, when focus is on list of content identifieritems 214, then only the cursor 216 is displayed. However, when focuschanges to the associated content list 218, the cursor 214 disappearsand the associated content list cursor 220 appears around an item in theassociated content list 218. When focus changes back to the list ofcontent identifier items 214, the cursor 216 reappears and theassociated content list cursor 220 disappears. This arrangement issimilar to that described in relation to FIGS. 6 a, 6 b and 8.

The additional options field 222 presents further functions that can beperformed. In the illustrated example screenshot 210 it is indicatedthat a particular key of the remote control having an appropriatefunction assigned thereto (e.g. Red key) should be pressed to perform asearch.

The particular functions available (for example, “record”, “bookmark”,“share” or “download”), will depend on the device's capabilities and theOEM, operator or content owner preferences.

Although described in relation to a TV programme guide, the arrangementof FIG. 9 may also be applicable as a content guide for content receivedvia the communications network rather than broadcast content.

The above one or more embodiments are to be understood as illustrativeexamples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention areenvisaged as follows.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution is viatransmission over both a communications network (as either streamingvideo or as a progressive download) and a video distribution network (asbroadcast video). The communications network may be for example theInternet or a local private network, a wireless network, or atelecommunications network such as for example General Packet RadioService (GPRS) or a telecommunications network based on a ThirdGeneration (3G) telecommunications standard such as for example theUniversal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or Code DivisionMultiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000) and the distribution receiver receivesthe transmission via a communications network, for example a networkcard, or a broadband modem, or a wireless network card, or atelecommunications receiver such as a GPRS receiver or a receiver basedon a Third Generation (3G) telecommunications standard such as forexample the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UTMS) or CodeDivision Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000).

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distributiontechnique may be via a storage medium for example a hard disc, or anoptical storage medium such as a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) or a HighDefinition DVD (HD-DVD) such as a Blue Ray Disc, and the contentreceiver is a device for accessing the storage medium, such as a harddisc or a DVD player or an HD-DVD player.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia a user-recorded storage medium, such as a hard disc or a Video HomeSystem (VHS) cassette or for example an optical storage medium such as aDigital Versatile Disc (DVD) or a High Definition DVD (HD-DVD) such as aBlue Ray Disc, and the content receiver is a device for accessing theuser recorded storage medium, such as means for accessing a hard disc ora VHS cassette player or a DVD player or an HD-DVD player.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia a user-recorded storage medium that is internal to the contentreceiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia a user-recorded storage medium that is external to and coupled withthe content receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia a user-recorded storage medium at a remote location and includestransmission to the content receiver via a communications network suchas for example the Internet.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia an analogue broadcast.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia a digital broadcast.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia terrestrial television broadcast and the content receiver is aterrestrial television receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia satellite television broadcast and the content receiver is asatellite television receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention content distribution may bevia cable television broadcast and the content receiver is a cabletelevision receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the content receiver may beconfigured to specify its capabilities to the MDMS, for example, eachtime search request is invoked, and/or when a request for content issent to the MDMS.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content receiver may bea computer, or content stored on a computer on a home network.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content receiver may bea mobile device such as for example a portable computer, a mobile phoneor another receiver of Digital Video Broadcast for Handheld devices(DVB-H).

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content display may be avisual display unit such as a computer monitor.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content display may be ascreen embedded in a mobile device.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content navigationmodule may be invoked via the user selection of a menu item displayed bythe video receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content navigationmodule and the browser application may be components of a singlecomputer program.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content navigationmodule may be implemented as dynamically generated content presented bythe content receiver, for example where the dynamically generatedcontent is a web page in a markup language such as for example HypertextMarkup Language (HTML).

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content navigationmodule may be implemented as dynamically generated content presented bythe browser application that is generated by a remote system andtransmitted to the browser application via a communications network.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content receiver may beable to render items of content relating to TV applications described ina markup language or other Interactive engine such as for exampleHypertext Markup Language (HTML), TV Markup Language (TVML, or wTVML),Extensible HTML (XHTML), XHTML Basic, CE-HTML or another ExtensibleMarkup Language (XML) based content description.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the browser application maybe able to render content in the form of a video sequence such as forexample a video received via a communications network or a videodistributed via a broadcast method received by the content receiver or avideo stored on a storage medium accessed by the content receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the search functioncomprises a sub-image embedded in content.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the input device may be akeypad on a mobile device, for example a keypad on a mobile phone.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the link to content may be aUniversal Resource Identifier (URI).

In one or more embodiments of the invention the link to content maydirect the content receiver to access content that is for example avideo sequence that is for example received via a communications networkor distributed via a broadcast method or stored on a storage medium, ora TV application capable of being accessed via an interactive contentengine installed on the device.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the links to content may bepaid-for interactive or video advertisements.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content output componentmay be able to present a video sequence decoded by the video decoder inone portion of the video display and graphics produced by programsrunning on the graphics processor in another portion of the display.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content output componentmay be able to present graphics produced by programs running on thegraphics processor that consume the entire display.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content output componentproduces an analogue computer display signal such as a Video GraphicsArray (VGA) signal.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the video output componentproduces a digital display signal such as a Digital Visual Interface(DVI) signal.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the video output componentproduces a high-definition digital display signal such as aHigh-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) signal.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, there is provided acommunications system, comprising: one or more communications networks;a plurality of content items accessible over said one or morecommunications networks; and a data store of presentation configurationdata for one or more of said plurality of content items for definingpresentation of a content item corresponding to presentationconfiguration data.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the communications systemfurther comprises a content item representation configuration moduleoperative to define representation of a content item in dependence onpresentation configuration data corresponding to said content item.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the communications systemfurther comprises a content item receiver operative to access saidplurality of content items over said one or more communicationsnetworks, wherein said content item representation configuration moduleis operative to define representation of a content item according tosaid presentation configuration data responsive to said content itemreceiver accessing said content item.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the communications systemfurther comprises a display device and wherein said content itemreceiver is operative to drive said display device to display saidcontent item in accordance with said presentation configuration data.

In one or more embodiments of the invention a one of said one or morecommunications networks is a broadcast communications network and saidpresentation configuration data comprises broadcast communicationsnetwork display data for displaying indicia associated with saidbroadcast communications network.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content itemrepresentation configuration module is further operative to definerepresentation of a content item in dependence on a state of the contentitem receiver and presentation configuration data stored in the datastore corresponding to that state.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the state of said contentitem receiver is indicative of said content item receiver being tuned toreceive a communication from said broadcast communications network.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the presentationconfiguration data comprises content item owner presentationconfiguration data usable by said content item receiver for displayingindicia associated with said content item owner.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the presentationconfiguration data comprises original equipment manufacturer (OEM)configuration data usable by said content item receiver for displayingindicia associated with the manufacturer of the content item receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content itemrepresentation configuration module is operative to transmit contentitem configuration data to said content item receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the a further one of saidone or more communications network is a broadband network.

In one or more embodiments of the invention a content item accessibleover said broadband network comprises a broadband content item.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the presentationconfiguration data for said broadband content item comprisespresentation configuration data usable by said content item receiver fordisplaying indicia associated with a source and/or originator of saidbroadband content item.

In one or more embodiments of the invention a yet further one of saidone or more communications network is a local area network.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the data store is accessibleby one or more of content owners, OEMs, broadband service providersand/or broadcast service providers for configuring said data store withpresentation configuration data.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the communication systemfurther comprises an interface operative to provide a communicationsconduit to said data store for said one or more content owners, OEMs,broadband service providers and/or broadcast service providers forconfiguring said data store with presentation configuration data.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the interface comprises anetwork interface thereby to provide said content item owners.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, there is provided a contentitem display management module, comprising: a data store of presentationconfiguration data for one or more of a plurality of content items; anda content item representation configuration module operative to definerepresentation of a content item in dependence on presentationconfiguration data corresponding to said content item.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the presentationconfiguration data comprises broadcast communications network displaydata for displaying indicia associated with said broadcastcommunications network.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the presentationconfiguration data comprises content item owner configuration datausable by said content item receiver for displaying indicia associatedwith said content item owner.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the presentationconfiguration data comprises original equipment manufacturer (OEM)configuration data usable by a content item receiver for displayingindicia associated with the manufacturer of the content item receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content itemrepresentation configuration module is operative to transmit contentitem representation data to a content item receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content item displaymanagement module further comprises an interface operative to provide acommunications conduit to said data store for said one or more contentowners, OEMs, broadband service providers and/or broadcast serviceproviders for configuring said data store with presentationconfiguration data.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, there is provided a contentitem receiver, configured to receive content item representation dataand drive a display device to display indicia corresponding to saidcontent item representation data.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content item receiver isfurther configured to drive a display device to reserve one or moreregions of said display for indicia corresponding to respective contentitem representation data.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content itemrepresentation data corresponds to one or more of: a content provider; acontent owner; a service provider; a broadcast network owner; and anOEM.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, there is provided a methodof content item display management, comprising: storing presentationconfiguration data for one or more of a plurality of content items; anddefining representation of a content item in dependence on presentationconfiguration data corresponding to said content item.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the method further comprisesdefining representation of a content item in dependence on a state ofthe content item receiver and said presentation configuration data.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the method further comprisesusing said content item owner configuration data usable in a contentitem receiver for displaying indicia associated with said content itemowner.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the method further comprisestransmitting content item representation data to a content itemreceiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, there is provided a methodof operating a content item receiver, comprising receiving content itemrepresentation data and driving a display device to display indiciacorresponding to said content item representation data.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the method of operating acontent item receiver further comprises driving a display device toreserve one or more regions of said display for indicia corresponding torespective content item representation data.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content itemrepresentation data corresponds to one or more of: a content provider; acontent owner; a service provider; a broadcast network owner; and anOEM.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, there is provided acomputer program comprising computer program element operative in a dataprocessing apparatus to implement the content item display managementmodule above and/or the content item receiver above and/or the methodabove.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, there is provided a carriermedium carrying the above computer program.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, there is provided acommunications system, comprising: one or more communications networks;a plurality of content items accessible over said one or morecommunications networks; a plurality of content item receivers operativeto access one or more of said plurality of content items over said oneor more communications networks; a data store of configuration data forone or more of said plurality of content item receivers; a search moduleoperative to identify one or more of said plurality of content items andcorresponding metadata responsive to a search request from a one contentitem receiver of said plurality of content item receivers; and a contentfilter module operative to filter content items identified by saidsearch module in dependence on configuration data corresponding to saidone of said plurality of content item receivers to generate a list ofcontent items.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the data store furtherincludes configuration data for one or more of said plurality of contentitem owners and/or for one or more users of content item receivers.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content filter module isfurther operative to filter content items identified by said searchmodule in dependence on said configuration data for one or more of saidplurality of content item owners and/or said configuration data for oneor more users of content item receivers and/or said metadata.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the configuration datacomprises information on one or more of: video decoders supported bysaid one content item receiver; bandwidth of communication channel withsaid one content item receiver; display format of a display deviceassociated with said one content item receiver; display driverssupported by said one content item receiver; display limitations;policies; branding and rules determined by content item owners for thedisplay of their content; personal preferences of users of the contentitem receivers; display limitations; and branding and functionality asdetermined by the responsible parties (manufacturers or operators) ofthe content item receivers, such that said list consists of identifiedcontent items usable by said one content item receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the configuration datacomprises information on a viewer profile corresponding to a useridentity associated with said one content item receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the configuration datacomprises information enabling an on-screen user interface of thecontent item receiver to be generated or updated based on two or more ofthe configuration data.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the communication systemfurther comprises a data store including a content item index.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the content item indexfurther includes metadata associated with one or more indexed contentitems.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the search module isoperative to search said content item index.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the search module isoperative to order said list according to relevance to said searchrequest.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the search module is furtherconfigured to identify one or more further content items associated witha content item corresponding to a specific content item identifier insaid list to form a further list of content item identifiers.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the specific content itemidentifier is the first in said list.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the specific content itemidentifier is the first in said list.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the specific content itemidentifier is identified by user input received from one content itemreceiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the search module isconfigured to associate one or more further content items with a contentitem corresponding to a specific content item identifier in said listbased on one or more of the following non-limiting list of metadata:genre; lead actor/actress; producer; topic; subject; distributor;channel owner and content item owner.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the search module isconfigured to associate one or more further content items with a contentitem corresponding to a specific content item identifier in said listbased on recommendation rules in a viewer profile.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the communications systemfurther comprises a network interface for communicating said list andsaid further list to said one content item receiver over said one ormore communications networks.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, there is provided a methodfor identifying content items accessible by a plurality of content itemreceivers over one or more communications networks, comprising:identifying a plurality of content items and corresponding metadataresponsive to a search request from a one content item receiver of saidplurality of content item receivers; and filtering content itemsidentified by said search module in dependence on configuration datacorresponding to said one of said plurality of content item receivers togenerate a list of content items.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the method further comprisesfiltering content items identified by said search module in dependenceon said corresponding metadata.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the method further comprisessearching a content item index.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the method further comprisesordering said list according to relevance to said search request.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the method further comprisesidentifying one or more further content items associated with a contentitem corresponding to a specific content item identifier in said list toform a further list of content item identifiers.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the method further comprisesassociating said one or more further content items with a content itemcorresponding to a specific content item identifier in said list basedon one or more of the following non-limiting list of metadata: genre;lead actor/actress; producer; topic; subject; distributor; channel ownerand content item owner.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the method further comprisesassociating said one or more further content items with a content itemcorresponding to a specific content item identifier in said list basedon recommendation rules in said viewer profile.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the configuration data isused to generate actionable items on a user interface of the contentitem receiver.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the configuration data isused to determine the branding of parts or all of a user interfacevisible to the viewer from time to time.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the configuration data isused to determine the appropriate user interface behaviours on thecontent item receiver, for example from the following non-limiting list:on-focus scaling, focus transition effects, other focus highlightingoptions, item navigation policy, transparency, and appearance anddisappearance visual effects of on screen items.

In one or more embodiments of the invention the configuration data isused to determine appropriate user interface actionable items, forexample from the following non-limiting list: items on menus, items onsub menus, items as “colour button” accelerators, items as “numeric”accelerators.

In one or more embodiments of the invention there is provided a contentitem management module, comprising: a data store of configuration datafor one or more of a plurality of content item receivers; a searchmodule operative to identify one or more of a plurality of content itemsand corresponding metadata responsive to a search request from a onecontent item receiver of said plurality of content item receivers; and acontent filter module operative to filter content items identified bysaid search module in dependence on configuration data corresponding tosaid one of said plurality of content item receivers to generate a listof content items.

In one or more embodiments of the invention there is provided a computerprogram comprising program elements operative in a data processingapparatus to implement the above method and/or the above content itemmanagement module.

In one or more embodiments of the invention there is provided a carriermedium carrying the above computer program.

It will be appreciated that the term “playback” is intended to refer tothe display of live video content such as a live sporting event as wellas recorded video content.

It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any oneembodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other featuresdescribed, and may also be used in combination with one or more featuresof any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of theembodiments.

Insofar as embodiments of the invention described above areimplementable, at least in part, using a software-controlledprogrammable processing device such as a general purpose processor orspecial-purposes processor, digital signal processor, microprocessor, orother processing device, data processing apparatus or computer system itwill be appreciated that a computer program for configuring aprogrammable device, apparatus or system to implement the foregoingdescribed methods, apparatus and system is envisaged as an aspect of thepresent invention. The computer program may be embodied as any suitabletype of code, such as source code, object code, compiled code,interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, and thelike. The instructions may be implemented using any suitable high-level,low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/or interpretedprogramming language, such as C, C++, Java, BASIC, Perl, Matlab, Pascal,Visual BASIC, JAVA, ActiveX, assembly language, machine code, and soforth. A skilled person would readily understand that term “computer” inits most general sense encompasses programmable devices such as referredto above, and data processing apparatus and computer systems.

Suitably, the computer program is stored on a carrier medium in machinereadable form, for example the carrier medium may comprise memory,removable or non-removable media, erasable or non-erasable media,writeable or re-writeable media, digital or analog media, hard disk,floppy disk, Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Company DiskRecordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW), optical disk,magnetic media, magneto-optical media, removable memory cards or disks,various types of Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) subscriber identitymodule, tape, cassette solid-state memory. The computer program may besupplied from a remote source embodied in the communications medium suchas an electronic signal, radio frequency carrier wave or optical carrierwaves. Such carrier media are also envisaged as aspects of the presentinvention.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,”“including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary,“or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example,a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true(or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or notpresent) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (orpresent).

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elementsand components of the invention. This is done merely for convenience andto give a general sense of the invention. This description should beread to include one or at least one and the singular also includes theplural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

The scope of the present disclosure includes any novel feature orcombination of features disclosed therein either explicitly orimplicitly or any generalisation thereof irrespective of whether or notit relates to the claimed invention or mitigate against any or all ofthe problems addressed by the present invention. The applicant herebygives notice that new claims may be formulated to such features duringprosecution of this application or of any such further applicationderived therefrom. In particular, with reference to the appended claims,features from dependent claims may be combined with those of theindependent claims and features from respective independent claims maybe combined in any appropriate manner and not merely in specificcombinations enumerated in the claims.

1-22. (canceled)
 23. A method of content navigation for selectingcontent from at least a first content domain and a second differentcontent domain using a computer program and a computer, comprisingdriving a display device to display one or more content item identifiersidentifying content items of said first content domain and content itemidentifiers identifying one or more content items of said second contentdomain in a common display arrangement.
 24. A method according to claim23, wherein said first domain is a broadband content domain and saidsecond domain is a broadcast content domain.
 25. A method according toclaim 24, further comprising driving said display device to displaycontent item identifiers identifying one or more items of a thirdcontent domain.
 26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said thirdcontent domain is a local content domain.
 27. A method according toclaim 26, wherein said local content domain comprises a network local tosaid display device.
 28. A method according to claim 23 furthercomprising driving said display device to: display in a first region ofsaid display device a first list of said one or more content itemidentifiers arranged in a first direction; display a cursor movable insaid first direction from a display position of one content itemidentifier of said first list to a display position of an adjacentlydisplayed content item identifier of said first list responsive to userinput; and display in a second region of said display device a secondlist of one or more content item identifiers associated with a contentitem identifier of said first list on which said cursor is positioned,wherein said second list is arranged in a second direction transverse tosaid first direction.
 29. (canceled)
 30. A method according to claim 28,wherein said first list may comprise one or more content itemidentifiers and said second list may comprise one or more content itemidentifiers.
 31. A method according to claim 30, further comprisinginitiating generation of said second list responsive to said cursorbeing at a display position of said one or adjacently displayed contentitem identifier in said first list.
 32. A method according to claim 31,further comprising moving said cursor to a display position of a contentitem identifier of said second list responsive to a user actuatedcontrol signal, said cursor movable in said second direction from adisplay position of said content item identifier of said second list toa display position of an adjacently displayed content item identifier ofsaid second list responsive to user input.
 33. A method according toclaim 32, further comprising moving said cursor to a display position ofa content item identifier of said first list responsive to a second useractuated control signal.
 34. A method according to claim 33, furthercomprising displaying said cursor with a direction indicator forindicating a direction in which said cursor is movable.
 35. A methodaccording to claim 25, further comprising displaying only content itemidentifiers identifying content items of said first content domain in afirst mode and displaying only content item identifiers identifyingcontent items of said second content domain in said second mode.
 36. Amethod according to claim 35, further configured to be operative in athird mode wherein said third mode only content item identifiersidentifying content items of said third content domain are displayed.37. A method of content navigation according to claim 23, wherein thestep of driving the display device includes switching between at least afirst receiver mode operative to receive the one or more content itemsof the first content domain and a second receiver mode operative toreceive the one or more content item of the second content domain; andfurther including; selecting a content item identifier displayed on saiddisplay device responsive to user actuation of said displayed contentitem identifier; and initiating in said receiver a receiver modecorresponding to the content domain of said selected content itemidentifier.
 38. method according to claim 37, further comprisinginitiating in said receiver access to a selected content itemcorresponding to said selected content item identifier responsive tosaid user actuation and accessing said selected content item responsiveto said initiating.
 39. A method according to claim 37, for which a widearea broadband communications network provides said first content domainand a broadcast video network provides said second content domain.
 40. Amethod according to claim 39, for which a local area network provides athird content domain. 41-46. (canceled)